Xiao Qingya spent her time dozing off, reading the two stories in her mind. For now, only her mother and sisters' story arc was available. Even she could only unlock the early arcs.
[The early part mostly focuses on my family's growth…] She mumbled, scrunching her nose. [Even so, there are still so many obstacles before them. So difficult.]
"Done!" Zhou Anran exclaimed softly after she braided her daughter's silky hair into two sections. She didn't forget to give Xiao Qingya an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "My daughter is so pretty!"
Xiao Qingya's eyelashes fluttered. She tilted her head, then jumped to her mother's arms, soaking in the motherly love. She didn't always get such a caring mother in every world.
Even when her mother was the female protagonist. It didn't always mean they were responsible parents.
Xiao Yuxi pursed her lips on the side, wanting to join in but was unable to. She already cleaned her hands some time ago, and now she felt a little better.
"Xi'er, how do you feel?" Zhou Anran asked her worriedly. "Let me see your hands."
A little hesitant, Xiao Yuxi still opened the cloth covering her hands. The condition was definitely better than yesterday, but the uncomfortable feeling still remained.
This illness sucked because there were less things she could help her family with. A lot of things were inconvenient.
"My hands are definitely getting better," Xiao Yuxi consoled her mother.
Xiao Qingya also peered over. The little one could only sigh sadly in her mother's embrace.
"If we are going to the field tomorrow, I will be going too," Xiao Yuxi decided. A stubborn look remained on her face.
"Elder Sister, if you want to go to the fields, you need to have your hands checked." Xiao Yuyan's soft voice rang in their ears as she entered the room.
She and Xiao Fenghao had just returned from the village market.
Xiao Yuxi frowned, her face full of exasperation at her twin. "Yan'er, we already discussed it. There's no need to get my hands checked. I will get better–"
She was cut off by Xiao Yuyan's next words. "Physician Li is already here. He is in the living room. Go meet him, Elder Sister. Second Brother and I have already paid the medical fee, so don't waste it."
Xiao Yuxi: …
She was utterly speechless. Looking at her twin sister's clear yet determined expression, she didn't know what to say. Xiao Yuyan was soft-hearted, but others didn't know how cunning she could be.
"Alright." Xiao Yuxi exhaled. "I will go meet Physician Li."
It was also her siblings' effort, and she couldn't waste it. They must have used the money they earned today to invite Physician Li to their house. Thinking of this, Xiao Yuxi's heart warmed.
Physician Li used to be a medical practitioner from the capital. However, he wasn't someone who was greedy for money and valued his peace more. As such, he moved to the countryside to work as a physician, dedicating himself to the common people.
He also intended to spend his time studying more prescriptions in hope to make breakthroughs in his medical skills and knowledge.
Anyone couldn't easily invite him to their house, but their small family was quite close to Physician Li due to Xiao Jingran's master. Even Physician Li was respectful toward him.
There was a rumor that Xiao Jingran's master was the physician who had solved the plague in other provinces. The plague that had made the officials full of headaches.
Most of the physicians they invited were helpless against the plague except for this one physician who suddenly just appeared out of nowhere.
Usually, Physician Li would charge less for their family too. Sometimes, he wasn't even willing to accept any medical fee from them, but their family always insisted, after all, they had often troubled him.
Xiao Yuyan accompanied her sister while Xiao Fenghao slowly walked into the room where his youngest sister was clinging to their mother's arms.
"Hao'er," Zhou Anran's eyes lit up when she saw her second son. "Go accompany your sister. I will go to the kitchen to prepare something for Physician Li."
She stood up with Xiao Qingya in her arms. Once again, she kissed her daughter's forehead and coaxed her. "Go play with Second Brother first, okay, Little Ya? Mother will be quick."
The little one didn't refuse when her mother handed her over to her brother. She instantly snaked her chubby and tender arms on her brother's neck. Xiao Fenghao stiffened slightly, but he slowly hugged his sister, walking toward the chair.
"Little Ya, look what Second Brother brought for you." Xiao Fenghao pulled a small package and showed it to Xiao Qingya.
The girl who had bought the scented sachets came back again, bringing her young miss. The young miss was attracted by the scented sachets' scent, but she somehow ended up buying some of the carved small toys he had made too.
Since they made quite a good amount of money, Xiao Fenghao bought a candied hawthorne for his youngest sister. Xiao Qingya's little face visibly lit up at the sight of the food.
[My second brother is so good, although he is a little foolish sometimes.] Xiao Qingya grabbed the candied hawthorn and began to eat with relish.
She didn't notice that Xiao Fenghao's movement froze the moment he heard the childish words. Foolish? Who?
Xiao Fenghao's eyes landed on his younger sister's little face. She was so busy eating the candied hawthorn, occasionally squinting her eyes in enjoyment and completely ignoring him.
His gaze grew thoughtful. Was he hallucinating? Why did he hear his little sister's voice speaking with such fluency?
"Thank… Brother…" Xiao Qingya realized that Xiao Fenghao had been a little silent and realized her action might have been a bit too abrupt.
Hearing that, Xiao Fenghao snapped to his senses and decided that it was indeed his hallucination. How could his cute sister call him foolish, otherwise?
After all, she liked him so much…
Thinking of the incident a few days ago, he immediately apologized to his sister. "Little Ya, Second Brother is sorry. I didn't take good care of you before, causing you to suffer. I promise I will do better in the future."
His face was full of seriousness, as if he was making an oath.
Xiao Qingya clicked her tongue inwardly. [Hmph, let's hope you won't be so foolish anymore in the future. It's best if you have character development. Otherwise… with that temperament, your role is definitely a miserable cannon fodder.]